UAE grants 3-month grace period for visa violators to exit the country

The UAE has granted a three-month period, starting May 18, for residency violators to exit the country, authorities have announced

The amnesty scheme includes residents violators and those who violated entry and visa permits, absconders who escaped from their sponsors and violators of employments contracts, provided that the violation occurred before March 1, 2020.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship held an e-media briefing on May 19 to inform ambassadors and consul generals accredited to the UAE about the latest developments pertinent to the time period granted to overstaying residents and visitors.

As per the move, all administrative fines will be waived for illegal residents and for those with expired residence and visit visas.

The amnesty includes all illegal residents and visitors who wish to exit the UAE. They will be exempted from fines for Identity card and from departure fees, cancellation of permits and renewal of labour permits.

These groups may re-enter the country if they procure new employment contracts.

Major General Saeed Rakan Al Rashidi, director general of Foreigners Affairs and Ports at the authority, said: “In view of these exceptional conditions, a decision has been taken to exempt all residency and entry violators, provided that they want to leave the country and return to their countries.”